Tape roll-inserting device

ABSTRACT

A tape roll supply mechanism comprising a container or cartridge in which a tape roll is supported, the cartridge being removably positioned within the framework of a printing device. Once the cartridge is secured in an operative position, a mechanism carried by the cartridge is manipulated to initially advance the inaccessible leading end of the tape to a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;start&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position relative to a rotatable printing drum for advancement thereafter by a tape feed mechanism.

United States Patent Inventors Melvin H. Norman Oakland; Nathaniel F. Hawthorne, Alameda, both of Calif. Appl. No. 11,625 Filed Feb. 16, 1970 Patented Dec. 7, 1971 Assignee The Singer Company New York, N.Y.

TAPE ROLL-INSERTING DEVICE 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 226/91, I 226/ l 27 Int. Cl B65h 17/20 Field of Search 226/90, 91,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,646,337 7/1953 Gorham 226/90 X 2,827,286 3/1958 Taylor 226/90 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Attorneys-Patrick J. Schlesinger, Charles R. Lepchinsky and Jay M. Cantor ABSTRACT: A tape roll supply mechanism comprising a container or cartridge in which a tape roll is supported, the cartridge being removably positioned within the framework of a printing device. Once the cartridge is secured in an operative I position, a mechanism carried by the cartridge is manipulated to initially advance the inaccessible leading end of the tape to a start" position relative to a rotatable printing drum for advancement thereafter by a tape feed mechanism.

PATENTED DEC 7 l97| SHEET 1 [IF 4 w om H m J v @N A l I i'l! 1 I INVE TO MELVIN H. uol m'il ugumm. F. ummuoaue PATENTED DEC 7 I97! SHEET 2 [IF 4 @N W I g /II C PATENTEU DEC 7 I971 SHEET 3 BF 4 PATENTED DEC Han 3625407 sum u 0F 4 v Mil/ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In most printing devices for printing on tape, such as a postage-metering machine, the roll of tape is concealed within the machine for movement through a print station. The placement of the tape roll in the machine may, in some instances, be fairly simple. However, once in the machine, the threading of the tape through a guide system to a ready" or start position relative to tape feed mechanism can be difiicult and tedious.

Description of Prior Art In most systems now in use, the tape supply roll is supported within the cover of the device. Either before or after the tape roll is properly positioned, the leading end of the tape must be threaded into a guide system for control by a tape feed mechanism. The guide system and tape control mechanism are usually supported in the framework of the machine in a manner such that the initial threading of the tape is a blind operation, which is laborious and tedious. Also, the tape threading operation is usually made more difficult by the compactness of the mechanism and a limited space in which to carry out the operation.

In another known method, the gummed tape supply roll is rotatably positioned in a' cartridge which cartridge is in turn placed in the machine. A guide chute, or opening, is provided in the cartridge for the purpose of directing the leading end of the tape into the guide system for the tape feed control mechanism. Once the cartridge is in place, the tape roll is rotated by hand to move the leading end of the tape through the guide chute in the cartridge. However, as the gummed tape roll is rotated, the leading end portion of the tape tends to adhere to the outer surface of the roll, rather than to enter the guide chute, or it falls away from the roll, becoming lodged in the bottom of the cartridge. This latter method is shown in the copending application of Mel B. Kinney, et al., Ser. No 795,471, filed .Ian. 31, 1969.

In order to facilitate the tape-threading operation the present invention provides a frictional means selectively operable to initially move the leading end of the tape to the start position within the tape feed mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a supply roll of tape is supported in a container. A pressure roller is rotatably mounted on the container to support the leading end of the tape for movement of the tape from the supply roll. A friction roller is carried by an adjustable member for movement relative to the pressure roller. Upon adjustment of the adjustable member from a normally inoperative to an operative position, the friction roller engages the tape between the two rollers to enable the advancement ofitl'ie tape from the supply roll. Following engagement of the friction roller with the tape, a manually controlled means is effective to impart rotation to the friction roller, thereby advancing the tape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a fragmentary plan view of the tape feed mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the postage-metering machine with a portion of the cover broken away to show the tape roll cartridge in place, the view being taken on the plane indicated by line 2--2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view in perspective of the tape roll cartridge showing the adjustable manually controlled tape feed mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view in perspective of the tape roll cartridge, the view being taken of the side opposed to that shown in FIG. 3', with the tape roll removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is shown as preferably embodied in a postagemetering machine of the type described in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 795,471. Such a machine comprises a postage meter unit, a portion of which is shown at 10 in FIG. 2, and a base unit, partially shown at 12. The meter unit 10 is adapted to support a rotary printing drum l5 and is detachably mounted on the base unit 12. Once the meter unit 10 is secured in place on the base unit 12, the print drum I5 is positioned for cooperation with an impression roller 16 secured on a shaft 17, rotatably supported between each of similar parallel arms 18 (FIG. I) axially parallel to print drum 15. Each of the arms 18 is rockably supported on similar pins 19 carried by respective spaced parallel upright arms 20 integrally formed on a baseplate 21 of base unit 12. Normally, the carrier comprising the two parallel-spaced arms 18 is urged upwardly in a well-known manner (not shown), to resiliently maintain the impression roller 16 in active relationship with the print drum 15.

At its top, the base unit 12 is covered by a feed table 25, upon which envelopes are moved into print position with respect to the print drum I5, and is also enclosed by a suitable covering 26, secured to baseplate 21. Within the base unit 12 is provided a drive mechanism (not shown) for continuously rotating impression roller 16 and which, together with a cyclically operable clutch, controls the cyclic rotations of the print drum 15.

As disclosed in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 795,471, the operation of the clutch, controlling cyclic rotation of the print drum 15, is under the control of or may be controlled by a trip arm 27 (FIG. 2). At its one end, trip arm 27 is secured on a shaft 28 supported for rocking movement in the arms 18 with the other end of the arm disposed in the path of travel of an envelope as it reaches the print position. As the trip arm 27 is rocked clockwise (FIG. 2), an arm 29 secured on the shaft 28 closes microswitch 30 to effect engagement of the cyclically operable clutch.

The actuation of the trip arm 27 may also be effected by the engagement of the leading end of a tape T therewith, to initiate a cyclic rotation of the print drum 15. For a tape-printing operation, the leading end of the tape T is moved from the start" position indicated at 34 (FIG. 2) into engagement with the trip arm 27 and is thereafter moved, or advanced, by the print drum 15. During the printing phase of the operation, the leading end portion of the tape is moved to a position wherein the printed tape portion is severed, forming a strip which is thereafter dispensed. Following the severance of the tape, the remaining portion is retracted to return the now leading end of the tape to the start" position 34 (FIG. 2).

The movement of the tape T under control of a feed roller 35 carried by a shaft 36 joumaled in the parallel arms 18. In order to control the alternate advancement and retraction of the tape T, a pressure roller 37 is moved into and out of engagement with the feed roller 35 frictionally engaging the tape therebetween. Pressure roller 37 is carried by a shaft 38 supported in a bail, generally indicated at 39, which is rockably mounted on a 40, secured at its ends in the respective arms 18. Normally, the bail 39 is in its clockwise-rocked position with the tape T engaged between the pressure roller 37 and feed roller 35 to retain the leading end of the tape at the start" position.

During a tape-printing operation, the tape T is withdrawn from a tape roll supply 44 which supply, when depleted, may be replaced by opening an access door 45 provided in the enclosing cover 26 of the base unit 12. The access door 45 is hinged on the cover 26, supported on pins 46 and 47. As the door 45 is opened to enable the installation of a new roll of tape 44, the pressure roller 37 is separated from the feed roller 35 to enable the leading end portion of the tape T to pass therebetween during the initial threading operation. For this purpose, a pin 49 is carried by the upper hinge 48 of the door 45 and is engaged in an elongated slot 50 in a laterally formed car 51 of a slide bar 52. Bar 52 is suitably supported for endwise movement against the inner surface of the upper upright arm (FIG. 1) and is further supported for endwise movement by the engagement of a bifurcation 53 (FIG. 2) in the rightmost projected end of the slide with an annular groove in the shaft 40. As the access door 45 is opened to permit the replacement of a supply roll of tape, slide bar 52 is moved to the right from the position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2. By such movement, the inclined cam edge 54 of the extended end portion of the bar 52 underlying an extended end portion of the shaft 38, rocks the bail 39 counterclockwise about shaft 40 to separate pressure roller 37 from feed roller 35. For a complete description of the tape feed mechanism, reference is to be had to the aforementioned application, Ser. No. 795,47l.

When it becomes necessary to install a new supply roll of tape in the machine, the access door 45 in the base unit 12 is opened. A cartridge, generally indicated at 58 in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, is moved into position within the machine in a guide trough, or channel, 59 fonned in the baseplate 21. The cartridge 58 comprises a base portion 60 (FIG. 4) and a sidewall 61 fonned at a right angle to the base 60 and, at its left-hand end as viewed in FIG. 4, abuts an end wall 62. The end wall 62 is provided with a lateral extension, or foot, 63 which is welded or otherwise secured to the basemember 60. Extending upwardly and angularly inwardly, end wall 62 is an integral part of an auxiliary side frame 64 which is riveted, or otherwise secured, at 65 to sidewall 61 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Auxiliary side frame 64 is spaced from, and is parallel with the sidewall 61 to provide a covered area for certain operating mechanisms, as will hereinafter described. Also riveted, or otherwise secured, to sidewall 61 is an auxiliary side frame 66 spaced from, and parallel to, the plane of the sidewall 61, to provide a support for a tape roll spindle 70. At its top edge, the auxiliary side frame 64 carries an ear, or tab, 67 which, together with a suitable screw, secures the auxiliary side frame 64 to an extended arm of the auxiliary side frame member 66.

At its one end, the spindle 70 is secured to the auxiliary side frame 66, projecting laterally therefrom, and adjacent its other end, is provided with an annular groove 71 for a purpose to be explained later. A substantially semicircular opening is formed in the sidewall 61 to accommodate a disc 73 rotatably supported on the spindle 70 adjacent the inner wall of the auxiliary side frame member 66. Disc 73 is retained in place for rotation on spindle 60 by means of a clip 74 engaged in a suitable annular groove in the spindle. Integrally formed upon the face of the disc 73 are three similar bosses 75 equiangularly spaced thereon and adapted to engage in complementary openings within the tape roll core. Thus, the disc 73 will rotate with the tape roll during each tape feed operation.

Following the placement of a roll 44 of tape on the spindle 70, the leading end of the tape is directed upwardly between an arcuate guide plate 78 and a pressure roller 79, each of which is supported between the arms 80 and 81 of a U-shaped bracket, or ball, 82. Guide plate 78 is secured in place between the arms 80 and 81 of the bail 82 and the pressure roller 79 is rotatably supported on a shaft 83 secured at its respective ends in the arms 80 and 81. The one arm 80 of the bail 82 is offset and extended to provide support for the bail 82 rockable about a pin 84 secured on auxiliary side frame member 66. Normally, the bail 82 is resiliently urged counterclockwise (FIGS. 2 and 3) by means of a spring 85 to a limit position determined by the engagement of a laterally projecting car 86 on the arm 80 with the lower edge of the extended arm of the auxiliary side frame member 66.

Following the placement of a roll 44 of tape T upon the spindle 70 and the threading of the leading end portion of the tape between the guide plate 78 and pressure roller 79, means are brought into play to frictionally retain the tape against the surface of the roller 79 and to thereafter manually control the initial feeding of the tape. For this purpose a slide arm 90 is supported for endwise adjustment, from a normally inoperative to an operative position, upon sidewall 61 and auxiliary side frame member 66. Adjacent its right end (FIG. 3), the support for the slide includes a pin 91 carried by the upper offset extension 93 of the sidewall 66 (FIG. 4) engaged in a suitable elongated slot 92 in the slide arm 90. At its leftmost, or rearward, end (FIG. 3), arm 90 is similarly supported for endwise adjustment by a pin 94 carried by sidewall 61 and engaged in a slot in the arm 90, similar to the slot 92. Normally, slide arm 90 is resiliently urged to the left, as viewed in FIG. 3, by a spring 95 secured at its one end to an car 96 projecting laterally from the extension 93 of side frame member 66 into an elongated rectangular opening 97 in arm 90. At its other end, the spring 95 is secured to an ear formed angularly outwardly of the arm 90 within the slot 97.

Upon adjustment of the arm or slide 90 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3, a pair of similar rollers 103 and 104 are moved into frictional engagement with the leading end portion of the tape T maintaining the tape against the pressure roller 79. Rollers 103 and 104 are secured in axially spaced relationship upon a shaft 105, such spacing being sufficient to enable the rollers to move either side of the guide plate 78. Shaft 105 is journaled at its one end on the slide arm 90 and, at its other end, in one flange of a U-shaped bracket 106 integrally formed on and projecting laterally from the slide 90.

In order to control the adjustment of the slide 90 to its operative position, wherein rollers 103 and 104 engage pressure roller 79 with the tape therebetween, an ear 107 projects laterally from, and at a right angle to, a depending portion 108 of the slide 90. Upon adjustment of the slide 90 to its operative position, a latch means becomes effective to retain the rollers 103 and 104 in frictional engagement with the tape. For this purpose, a latch arm 109 is pivotally supported at 110 on the auxiliary side frame 66 and is normally biased clockwise (FIGS. 2 and 3) by a spring 114. Latch arm 109 includes two extensions and 116, extension 116 having an ear 117 formed at a right angle thereto normally urged into engagement with the lower edge of the depending portion 108 of slide 90 by the spring 114. However, upon adjustment of the slide 90 to the right (FIGS. 2 and 3) by pushing on the tab, or car, 107, the ear 117 on latch arm 109 moves in behind a shoulder 118 formed in the lower end of the depending portion 108 of the slide 90, thereby releasably latching the slide in its operative position.

Now that the roll of tape has been placed on the spindle 70 and the leading end portion of the tape is frictionally held in position against pressure roller 79 by rollers 103 and 104, the tape roll is locked against axial movement on the spindle by means of a latch arm 119 (FIGS. 1 and 4). Arm 119 is provided with a lateral extension 120 at its free end which may be gripped by the fingers of an operator to control the rocking movement of the arm about a pin 121 carried by a bracket 122 formed at a right angle to the end wall 62. As the latch arm 119 is rocked clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 4, the edges of an opening 123 in the arm are adapted to engage in the annular slot 71 of the spindle 70, thereby locking the tape roll in place.

At this time, the tape cartridge, or container, 58 is ready for insertion through the door 45 and into the guide trough 59 within the machine base 21, to the active position shown in FIG. 2. Upon movement of the cartridge to active position the pressure roller 79 assumes a position adjacent the ends of the spaced-apart guide plates 127 of the tape feed mechanism. As the cartridge 58 is moved into its active position, the open end of a slot 128 in the forward end of the base portion 60 of the cartridge engages beneath the chamfered edge of the head of a pin 129, slidably mounted in the base plate 21. A slight mound is formed in the base portion 60 semicircularly about the opening 128 and serves, upon movement of the opening 128 into engagement with the head of the pin 129, to raise the pin against the influence of a compression spring 130. As the cartridge reaches its active position, the chamfered head of the pin 129 drops into the indentation formed by the mound about the opening 128, thereby removably retaining the cartridge in place.

While the access door 45 is open, pressure roller 37 is separated from, or is moved out of engagement with, the feed roller 35. A manually controlled means is then operated to move the leading end portion of the tape from the supply roll 44 between guide plates 127, pressure roller 37 and feed roller 35 to the start" position indicated at 34 (FIG. 2) or to a posi tion above the envelope feed table 24. For the manual feed control of the tape, a pulley 131 is secured on the outer extended end of shaft 105. At its left end, as seen in FIG. 2, the arm or slide, 90 carries a feed control wheel 132 adjacent the opening in the cover 26 and rotatably supported on a pin H33 carried by the slide 90. The wheel 132 has a knurled peripheral edge for finger control by an operator and is provided with a grooved pulley 134i integrally formed on the wheel 132 coaxial therewith. Upon manual rotation of feed wheel 132, a like rotation is imparted to rollers 103 and 104 to control advancement of the tape. For this purpose, an O ring belt 135 passes over the grooved pulleys 131 and 134 and in its run, passes over a grooved pulley 136 rotatably supported on pin 94 and a grooved idler pulley 137 rotatable about a pin 138 carried by the slide 90.

After the leading end portion of the tape has been moved through the machine guide system into a position between the pressure roller 37 and the tape feed roller 35 of the tape feed mechanism, the door 45 is closed. At this time, the slide bar 52 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 1, releasing the pressure roller 37 for its engagement with the tape and the feed roller 35. At the same time, a protuberance I139 formed on the inner surface of the door 45 engages an inclined end surface M0 of the extension 115 of the latch arm I09, camming the latch arm 109 counterclockwise (FIG. 2) to release the slide 90 to the influence of its spring 95.

Thereafter, the feeding of the tape from the supply roll 44 is under the control of the feed roller 35 and pressure roller 37. A means is provided for preventing any backlash or rebound of the tape supply roll which might alter the start" position 34 of the tape T. For this purpose, an 0" ring 143, preferably of rubber (FIG. 2), is carried on the peripheral edge of the tape roll disc 73. Rockably mounted on a pin 144 on sidewall 61, between the wall 61 and auxiliary side frame member 64, is an antibackup pawl 145 having its one arm 146 resiliently maintained in engagement with the O ring 143. Nonnally, a relatively light spring 147 urges the pawl 145 in the direction of rotation of the tape roll 44 during a tape feed operation. It will be noted that in addition to preventing rebound of the tape roll 44, the pawl 145 also serves to provide a frictional drag to preclude inertial movement of the tape roll following the feeding of the tape. As the tape is retracted upon completion of a tape-printing operation, the pawl 145 becomes effective to prevent retrograde motion of the tape roll or the loosening of the tape about the roll.

What is claimed is:

A tape dispenser including a container for supporting a tape roll supply,

a bracket rockably mounted in said container,

a pressure roller rotatably mounted in said bracket for supporting the leading end of the tape for passage of the tape thereover,

a limit stop,

means biasing said bracket into engagement with said limit stop,

a friction roller,

a plate member slidably mounted on said container and supporting said friction roller for adjustment from and inoperative to an operative position relative to said pressure roller,

said friction roller being axially parallel to said pressure roller and adapted to resiliently retain the tape in contact with said friction roller upon adjustment of said plate member to operative position,

a resilient means normally urging said plate member to the inoperative position,

a late means for releasably retaining said plate member in the operative position, and

a manual control means for effecting rotation of said friction roller in the operative position of said plate member to control the advancement of the tape from said supply roll.

2. In a tape printing machine having a print station, a tape roll supply, means for advancing the tape in a predetermined path from said tape roll supply to said printing station for each printing operation, and means for inserting said tape roll supply in said machine for advancement of the tape by said advancing means, the combination comprising:

a container for rotatably supporting said tape roll supply,

said container being insertable in said machine adjacent said advancing means,

a pressure roller over which the tape is moved to enable the passage of the tape from said supply roll to said advancing means,

feed means adjustable from a normally inoperative to an operative position relative to said pressure roller for frictional contact with the tape,

means for releasably retaining said feed means in the operative position, and

a manually controlled means associated with said feed means for selectively moving the leading end of the tape into position for advancement thereafter by said advancing means subsequent to the insertion of said container into said machine and upon adjustment of said feed means to the operative position.

3. In a device of the character described in claim 2 further including:

a bracket rockably mounted on said container for rotatably supporting said pressure roller, and

means normally biasing said bracket and said roller to an active position for the frictional contact of said feed means with the tape to move the tape over said roller.

4. In a device of the character described in claim 2 wherein said feed means comprises:

a control member mounted on said container for adjustment from a normally inoperative to an operative position and retention therein by said retaining means,

a shaft rotatably supported on said control member axially parallel to said pressure roller, and

a frictional roller means carried by said shaft for pressing the tape against said pressure roller upon adjustment of said control member to the operative position,

said frictional roller means being rotatable thereafter by said manually controlled means to effect movement of the tape to said advancing means.

5. In a device of the character described in claim 4 wherein said manually controlled means comprises:

a driven member carried by said shaft,

a manually rotatable wheel including a driving member mounted for rotation on said control member, and

means connecting said driving member and said driven member to control the rotation of said frictional roller means upon rotation of said wheel.

6. In a device of the character described in claim 4 further including a spring normally biasing said control member to the inoperative position.

7. In a device of the character described in claim 4 wherein said retaining means comprises:

a latch member for releasably engaging said control member in the operative position thereof to enable movement of the tape by said manually controlled means, and

a spring means normally biasing said latch member into engagement with said control member.

a w ww It 

1. A tape dispenser including a container for supporting a tape roll supply, a bracket rockably mounted in said container, a pressure roller rotatably mounted in said bracket for supporting the leading end of the tape for passage of the tape thereover, a limit stop, means biasing said bracket into engagement with said limit stop, a friction roller, a plate member slidably mounted on said container and supporting said friction roller for adjustment from and inoperative to an operative position relative to said pressure roller, said friction roller being axially parallel to said pressure roller and adapted to resiliently retain the tape in contact with said friction roller upon adjustment of said plate member to operative position, a resilient means normally urging said plate member to the inoperative position, a latch means for releasably retaining said plate member in the operative position, and a manual control means for effecting rotation of said friction roller in the operative position of said plate member to control the advancement of the tape from said supply roll.
 2. In a tape printing machine having a print station, a tape roll supply, means for advancing the tape in a predetermined path from said tape roll supply to said printing station for each printing operation, and means for inserting said tape roll supply in said machine for advancement of the tape by said advancing means, the combination comprising: a container for rotatably supporting said tape roll supply, said container being insertable in said machine adjacent said advancing means, a pressure roller over which the tape is moved to enable the passage of the tape from said supply roll to said advancing means, feed means adjustable from a normally inoperative to an operative position relative to said pressure roller for frictional contact with the tape, means for releasably retaining said feed means in the operative position, and a manually controlled means associated with said feed means for selectively moving the leading end of the tape into position for advancement thereafter by said advancing means subsequent to the insertion of said container into said machine and upon adjustment of said feed means to the operative position.
 3. In a device of the character described in claim 2 further including: a bracket rockably mounted on said container for rotatably supporting said pressure roller, and means normally biasing said bracket and said roller to an active position for the frictional contact of said feed means with the tape to move the tape over said roller.
 4. In a device of the character described in claim 2 wherein said feed means comprises: a control member mounted on said container for adjustment from a normally inoperative to an operative position and retention therein by said retaining means, a shaft rotatably supported on said control member axially parallel to said pressure roller, and a frictional roller means carried by said shaft for pressing the tape against said pressure roller upon adjustment of said contRol member to the operative position, said frictional roller means being rotatable thereafter by said manually controlled means to effect movement of the tape to said advancing means.
 5. In a device of the character described in claim 4 wherein said manually controlled means comprises: a driven member carried by said shaft, a manually rotatable wheel including a driving member mounted for rotation on said control member, and means connecting said driving member and said driven member to control the rotation of said frictional roller means upon rotation of said wheel.
 6. In a device of the character described in claim 4 further including a spring normally biasing said control member to the inoperative position.
 7. In a device of the character described in claim 4 wherein said retaining means comprises: a latch member for releasably engaging said control member in the operative position thereof to enable movement of the tape by said manually controlled means, and a spring means normally biasing said latch member into engagement with said control member. 